Gilroy Usher condemns KHMH corruption
Posted: 03/07/2009 - 12:00 PM
Author: Gilroy Usher, J.P.
#7749 Madam Liz Avenue
Belize City, Belize
Dear Sir,
Evidence has been provided which shows that items for the KHMH were purchased at exorbitant prices (rip-off prices) from certain suppliers when the same items could have been purchased from well-known businesses at much lower costs.
There is no other way to describe this practice than corruption, which is one of the main reasons why the previous government was removed from office.
Corruption in the government service is a terrible betrayal of public trust by some people in management positions, who should put the interest of the public before self-interest and the interest of friends. The present scandal is particularly outrageous since the collusion to embezzle thousands of dollars of government funds has occurred at the KHMH, the leading hospital, where doctors try their best to provide quality healthcare to poor people with far less than adequate supplies and equipment due to lack of sufficient funds from government.
It’s therefore painful to know that some people could not get the best possible care at the KHMH and may have lost their lives at the institution because the creaming off of needed funds for the health facility by unscrupulous businessmen and some people in management position at the KHMH prevented the hospital from having the right medication or equipment to deal with particular illnesses.
Corruption at KHMH is indeed terrible. At the same time it gives the government a unique opportunity to show that it is committed to ending corruption by public officials by ensuring that the guilty parties are brought to justice. In pursuit of that objective, all members of the KHMH management team who took part in the corruption or knew about it but did nothing to end the despicable practice should be dismissed from the hospital.
And the government should ensure that the board of the KHMH implements measures to prevent future embezzlement of needed funds from the institution.
Today, we must say kudos to the doctors’ union at the KHMH, especially to its President, Dr. Sosa, for raising the alarm about corruption at the health facility. To Dr. Sosa and the other members of the union, who risk their career by speaking out against wrongdoing at their place of employment, we say congratulations for a job well done.
And we encourage other members of the public service, who might be aware of similar corruption in the government, to also raise the alarm in the interest of Belizean people by providing the press with proof of such wrongdoings.
Respect must also be given to members of the committee that PM Barrow appointed to investigate the alleged corruption at the KHMH. The committee members did their work with integrity. They acted without fear or favor. Consequently the hustling at the KHMH that the doctors had alluded to was confirmed with solid evidence, rather than swept under the rug to protect people with political connection and money.
Despite all the challenges we face as a society, it is good to know that we still have people with integrity.
Sincerely yours,
Gilroy Usher, J.P.
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